Verse Magazine Edition 49

Editor’s Letter

Dear Readers,

Today is the day, we, this year’s devoted Verse Team, say goodbye. On behalf of my talented colleagues, I want to thank you for staying connected and engaging with us throughout this year.

There’s always something lamentable about a goodbye, whether it’s a movie’s final credits, the last pages of a novel, the unclasping of hands or this letter I’m writing now—it always brings something feeling to utter a farewell into such a full space. The notion of finality is one we struggle to grapple—there is no abyss that is as occupied as the one spawned from the words of a parting. But every darkness is wrapped in light—all you need is the ability to reach and remove the veil that envelops it.

The moment I was appointed Head Editor, I was determined, through the

head editor Shania Parker comms & digital editor Matisse Chambers graphic designers Isabelle Raven & Kyle Feirclough design & production consultant Jackson Polley design & production consultant Rachael Sharman printer Newstyle Print

aid of Verse pages, to show people that vigilance, evaluation and reformation are the keys to paving an inclusive, unified and equitable future for us all. This very issue aims to convey that intervention is either scarce or in the throes of seeking light via an incredibly pocket-sized sphere. For instance, features include Colin Herring’s Polycentrism and Maxian Ghong’s War, which centre around the issues of political powers, and remain true to the critical eye I’ve always encouraged.

I’ve been honoured to observe, marvel, capture, assemble and accommodate the alchemy of your creativity as writers, painters, graphic designers, representatives etc. and most accurately put, as artists. It is a monumentally rewarding process to find yourself in a space abundant with talent, and to be the intermediary between the artist and the platform.

I know that our successors have a journey ever more exhilarating to accompany you on. As I haul myself away from the Editor’s seat, I am overjoyed to join all of you as another faithful reader.

Thank you for indulging me this very last time.

Shania Parker

playlist You graphic Isabelle Raven

Polycentrism

words Colin Herring

Indigenous Peoples, The New Normal, Settler Society: serving capitalism or understanding the essential requirements of Otherness in a pluralist society

Aboriginal Land Corporations

» Subservient to an alien sovereignty

» We have to form a corporate identity to mirror our masters

» Constant incidents leading toward past, present and future extinguishment

» As long as we comply, we are given all the capital to live out the Western Ideal of Indigenous welcomes to Country through intellectual pursuit, arts, sport and media personalities

» But Irabinna Rigney asserts that once an Indigenous personality wants to cash in the cultural capital as an individual, there is NOTHING there.

The Land Corporation scaffolding manufactures disputable Aboriginal Nations

Native Title has many caveats attached to it through past, present and future acts of extinguishment.

The NTA is ultimately a document of Radical Title, ever diminishing, subservient and therefore exacerbating Indigenous Land Rights toward zero value (Herring and Lean 2019). This manufactures a feeling of helplessness & homelessness in contested Country. With intergenerational trauma, the Indigenous voice is often misdiagnosed

and trivialised, as of bipolar, schitzophrenic or borderline personality disorders (Fromene et al., 2014). Early contact with the criminal justice system becomes cultural.

Only a few Indigenous peoples can slip through this structural pathway via fields that foster outstanding capabilities, like sport, art, intellectual pursuit and entertainment to establish a (legitimate) voice.

The REALITY is

» Remote settlements are especially sparse, uninspiring ghettoes

» Drugs and alcohol forbidden

» Incarceration as passage to adulthood becomes cultural

» ‘Caring for Country’ becomes ghost net surveillance, mine restoration and dealing with weed infestationsserving Capitalism.

» In pandemic conditions, there is a

constant presence of State/Territory Police, federal police and Army

» This leads to incidents where individuals are harassed by police during essential gatherings known as

‘sorry business’, sometimes leading to their deaths in the name of protection for what amounts to minor warrants.

Essentialism and Relations

» There is a need to provide alternate methods of negotiation where essential human issues and quality of life drive an agenda and not the constant (settler) demand to dam water and globally trade in natural resources for a profit in between weather extremes and infectious disease exposure.

» Current relations (Briggs 2018) between settlers and Indigenous groups is an imposed platform designed to adopt a corporate identity of subservience to a NeoLiberal agenda that is periodically questionable especially under pandemic conditions.

Governance Through Constant Exposure to Death

» We are now exposed to a bizarre structural world through the constant threat of imminent death (Mbembe’s Necropolitic Pele 2020 via Foucault’s Biopolitic, Adams 2017).

» The current pandemic situation and recent history has thrust the entire world’s population into a condition known as ‘the new normal’ between extreme weather events.

» It places context to Foucault’s ambiguous belated notion of biopolitics (Schubert 2020).

» There is a noticeable murmur occurring in the proposed epoch termed ‘The Anthropocene’.

» All parties need to comprehend what is essential, not only to themselves but otherness (Briggs et al, 2018).

» We need to enjoy a sense of relatedness, based on our mutual environmental circumstances, especially in the context of a global Pandemic.

Inclusive Governance Modelling – POLYCENTRISM

» Polycentric governance methodologies are more user-friendly, in that no one arrives with a predetermined, allconsuming agenda (Carlisle and Gruby 2019).

» It suits the essential requirements of aiming to satisfy all claimants’ rights to a parcel of land specifically within the

Commons [1], especially in the context of natural resource management.

» The act of bringing claimants together for a frank and open discussion, often identifies redundancy [in that some agendas become unimportant or irrelevant].

Four areas of concern emerge: Cooperation, Competition, Conflict & Conflict resolution.

In current times, working parties can negotiate with appropriate authorities (Carlisle and Gruby 2019). The commons are the cultural and natural resources accessible to all members of society, including natural materials, such as air, water, and a habitable earth. These resources are held in common, not owned privately.

» The process does not require a central controlling body, nor a predesigned agenda; with due dates enforced by actors that are employed to deliver policy like ‘The Intervention’, without the scope or authority to consider alternate ‘essential’ agendas.

» (Bias in practice, implicit and explicit Dr Benjamin Reese 2019, Adelaide Dental School series of lectures).

» The notion of ‘essential’ should expand beyond just ‘workers’ and be reflected across the population’s needs.

Current practices of governance fall far too short of providing the kind of scaffolding that accepts that we all have essential requirements that may (culturally) differ. My purpose in suggesting there are alternative methods of negotiation between Nation States and Indigenous communities is not to sell another system of governance, more to foster a relationship that becomes essential.

ESSENTIALISM CULTURAL ESSENTIALISM

» Relationships through shared use of land

» Essential partnerships between settler society and Indigenous communities

» Currently we have essential workers defined as serving Capitalism and neoliberal agendas

» A pluralist society has many cultural notions of what is essential

When we comprehend what is essential to all claims for the same parcel of land, then we begin to ‘relate’.

The law is in the (shared) use of Land.

illustration Ethan Harris

artworks Isabelle Raven

Shanghai

Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan has certainly been a very significant event in world history. It reminded us of history and memories. My grandparents had been professors at Lanzhou University for many years in the twentieth century, and they taught many PhD students over their lifetime. Lanzhou University is an old university that has a long history and good rankings. My grandpa had visited Adelaide University and Trier University as guests after receiving an invitation from them. Adelaide University’s current Vice-Chancellor is from the University of Copenhagen. Tony Blair’s father had also taught at Adelaide University. My grandpa had been invited to visit by professors working in the same field. In Adelaide, he was invited to visit Professor Robinson from Adelaide University. He was invited to his house and met his family. Professor Robinson also took him on a helicopter tour—they had a lot of photos. Throughout my grandpa’s life, he published many books on language, culture and geography. He still works at schools, teaching students. My grandparents are still alive and well and in their eighties. I am a university student that is passionate about world issues. I have been to many countries around the world. UK was the country which left me with the strongest memories. I have been to the UK twice and those trips all happened around 2012, which was the year of Olympics. Its cultural and historical significance had enriched my knowledge and understanding about the language and culture of this nation. I had been fortunate enough to visit Buckingham Palace on a tour with guides. The tour guide was very

kind and helpful, as she told me that there are twin vases at Buckingham Palace, which originated from the Qing dynasty. They were given to the monarch as a gift. When I was studying at University Senior College in Adelaide, I did an arts research project, which explored the history of Shanghai (1920s-1930s). I discovered so many fascinating stories online about Shanghai. I found videos and photos from archives on YouTube and watching them made me feel as if I had been to Shanghai during that era. They intrigued me and enriched my understanding of the world we live in. I then conducted an interview with my grandma, and she told me those stories. My grandma was born in 1935 in Shanghai. Her family was aristocratic, scholarly and owned land in Pudong and Suzhou. Their family name is Xi. They lived in a house located on Avenue Joffre (Huaihai Road); it was an affluent area with many foreigners in the French Concession. Her father was a university graduate and owned a soap factory with his classmate in Shanghai. Their soap was sold all over China. His father had also worked for Kuomintang’s newspaper. Their house was big and had a garden. My grandma said she could see people from all over the world in this cosmopolitan city. There were American, British, French, German, Japanese, Jewish people, etc... At the time, she was young, and very sympathetic to Jewish people. Shanghai had a Jewish diaspora, as many Jewish people left Europe to seek refuge in Shanghai. People were kind and warmhearted, as Shanghai had welcomed Jewish people and protected them during the war. In her childhood, she used to have a

words Jim Huang

friend from England called Nick. He was a boy that was of the same age as my grandmother. He lived in Shanghai with his mother at that time. My grandma used to play with him, and sometimes they went to bookshops owned by foreigners from Europe. She remembered that whenever she spoke loud, Nick would put his finger in front of his mouth, signalling her to be quiet. She spoke fondly of her memories of her childhood. She also remembered an important photograph with her mother— she was young when it was taken. We could see the two of them standing on a wooden bridge. Both wore lovely dresses and had wide smiles on their faces. This photograph is the only one left from that time. A lot of photos were lost during the Cultural Revolution. So, those are her two most precious memories among her many stories of her life in Shanghai. After the war, Shanghai was liberated as Kuomintang lost the power and went to Taiwan, while Mao’s arm liberated many cities in China. My grandma had witnessed history, as things changed drastically. A lot of Shanghai residents had emigrated to other countries and cities. For my grandma and her family, leaving or remaining was a big decision to make. They did not leave, as they could not depart from everything they had. They wanted to leave but didn’t. After Mao took power, everything had become different. For families like my grandma’s, they had experienced a lot of hardships and trauma. Their possessions were taken away and confiscated. Not long after, she left her family to go to another city. At that time, everything was about your background. She went to

another costal city in Shandong province. It is a sister city of Adelaide, and its name is Qingdao. She met my grandpa while studying at university. She and grandpa had worked hard, and they became professors, teaching at the university. All of her stories have touched me deeply, they have inspired me to do great things. Those stories are not only hers but the worlds. They are important evidence of how each of us can make connections to our past. We make connections to other people, to our cities, to our nations and to the world. Those connections remind us that we can make connections with people, regardless of their background. We can transcend language and cultural boundaries. We can understand other people’s feelings, stories and experiences. History is important for us as human beings, as they enable us to understand ourselves, others and the connections we’ve made. They are a part of us and part of our society. They should be cherished, celebrated and remembered. We all have shared memories and understandings of the world we live in. Although our world has changed, the connections we make remain strong. They will stay with us for as long as we live. They will drive us to do great things. It will be great for us to hold a series of programs and events like online museums, public lectures, exhibitions, and forums on Shanghai. It will bring people together, to tell stories. It will inspire generations of artists, historians, politicians, filmmakers and writers to remember Shanghai.

Kind Regards, Jim

Q & A with USASA

What is Academic Review?

The university monitors students’ academic progress throughout their time in university to ensure they are progressing in their degree and work, to identify students making unsatisfactory progress. Circumstances of unsatisfactory progress are:

» failing a course for the second time;

» failing 50% or more of courses in an academic review period;

» failing a practice-based learning activity, where that failure constitutes failure in the course.

For students that may be struggling, there are support systems in place and this support continues throughout the stages of the academic review process. These students will receive written communication, notifying them of their unsatisfactory progress, as well as an offer of support for their future studies. If a student receives 3 or more notifications of unsatisfactory progress, they may be identified for preclusion.

What is preclusion?

If a student is precluded, it means your enrolments will be cancelled and you will lose your place in that program and in any other program in the same discipline for 2 years. If the student decides to re-apply in the future, re-admission follows normal procedures and is not guaranteed. Sometimes, preclusion is the best option for a student and can allow them to take time to get their studies back on track.

What does it mean if I receive a notification 1, and what should I do?

When a student receives the first notification, it is recommended that they complete an academic action plan. The student can also reach out to the Student Engagement Unit (SEU), course coordinator or program director for further support in their courses.

What should I do if I receive a notification 2

Once this notification is received, it can be considered a crucial turning point in a student’s university studies, as the next stage of the academic review process is preclusion from your program. It is at this stage that a student needs to proactively seek support with their studies in order to avoid preclusion. Seeking support could be in the form of changing study habits, reducing course load, getting a relevant access plan or by getting in contact with the student engagement unit.

If you have been identified for unsatisfactory progress or preclusion, there is a chance you may have struggled in your studies for a variety of reasons such as dealing with the challenges of health issues, family related circumstances or employment hardships. There is the option to appeal the preclusion in these circumstances.

Secondly, if a student has experienced circumstances that include, but are not limited to medical, family, personal, employment or course-related related, they may be able to apply for an amendment to enrolment. The information regarding this process can be found on the Special Circumstances section of the UniSA website.

The Advocates at USASA can offer support and guidance during this process.

How can a USASA advocate help?

The best way to reach out to an advocate is through the online form, where an advocate will be in touch within 2 working days to arrange a meeting. An advocate can provide students with support, advice and resources with the entire process of academic review, preclusion and special circumstances. If a student has a basis for appealing the preclusion, an advocate can help with this process.

https://usasa.sa.edu.au/support/academic-advocacy/help/

Advocates are also able to assist with a broad range of other academic issues relating to the Assessment Policies and Procedures Manual.

Do I need to come to campus to speak to an advocate?

While there is the option for an in-person meeting, you can also arrange to speak with an advocate on the telephone or in a zoom meeting.

I was going through some personal circumstances during my study period because of which I failed a few courses and have been identified for unsatisfactory progress. What are my options?

Individual Contributions:

Alice Whittlesea: Sophie Alchin:

I am in my 4th year of a double degree Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts, majoring in History and Global Politics and Applied Linguistics. I saw this internship advertised in an email from the UniSA Career Services newsletter and chose to apply, as I am interested in supporting people through a problem and wanted to explore ways in which that can be done.

I began this internship looking forward to the opportunity to shadow the advocates whilst conducting meetings with students to offer support and advice. This has been the absolute highlight of this experience, and each advocate has a unique approach to their role, which has meant there is so much to absorb and learn. As the end of my degree is fast approaching, I have begun to consider more closely what kind of law I would optimally like to practise in. The exposure to an advocacy service of this nature, that is so based on meeting and engaging with students, has helped me narrow my interests. As the internship has progressed, there has been the opportunity to move from shadowing to co-hosting meetings. Each week I have looked forward to engaging with students through this service; this has further instilled that I am excited about a career which focuses on advocating for clients.

Through the internship, another opportunity for professional development has been a communications project that has involved reviewing documents, which the university uses to communicate with students. This has been an on-going project, started by interns in previous years, and a great way to further develop and put into practise transferrable skills. The project has been a valuable experience in working collaboratively and as a team, to share ideas and bounce off one another’s suggestions and feedback.

If you had asked me 4 months ago what an Academic Advocacy intern is, I would have shrugged it off in true student style—I never would have guessed how much my life would change by simply applying. I have always shown altruistic tendencies and have wanted to provide help to those in need, which is evident in my choice of degrees, a Bachelors of Psychological Science, and a Master of Social Work. Having this background definitely gave me a push when applying for this internship position, as I felt it embodied all my natural qualities and values.

This is genuinely a service that I can’t believe isn’t talked about amongst students more often and is something I didn’t even know existed for my first 3 years within the university. Being an Academic Advocacy intern is not just boring paperwork and long hours, it is being part of a supportive environment, which emphasises resilience and self-growth. Having the room to develop both my personal and professional attitudes by stepping outside of my comfort zone has been an amazing experience. As I am normally a shy individual, having the support from the academic advocates has also encouraged me to become a more proactive and mindful person in all respective settings.

Academic Advocacy is your friend and as an organization that is independent of the uni, Verse is here to help you with issues relating to your studies, without judgment or preconceived ideas that the situation you’re in is completely your fault alone. Looking back, there are so many times as a student where I could have benefitted from this service, and now that I’ve had the opportunity to sit in and shadow/co-host meetings with the Advocates, I can see how, in what seems like the direst of situations, a good outcome can ultimately be achieved.

Hello, my fellow humans of UniSA! Ever wondered what life as an Academic Advocate at USASA looks like? Well, let me give you a peep into my journey as an Academic Advocacy intern at USASA! As a new international student in Adelaide, studying a Master of Social Work, I set out on the journey of gaining experience in my field of interest and came across this 14-week advocacy internship program at USASA. What followed, has been nothing short of an invaluable learning experience, allowing me to set foot outside of my comfort zone and to grow as a person. As someone who had very little information about the University policies, rights of students, cultural and local context, this internship enabled me to gain insights into these aspects, as well as into the experiences of other students at university; hence, guiding me in navigating my life at here at UniSA.

The internship is designed in a holistic way, focusing on both, personal & professional development, building on the skills & capabilities we already possess to allow for self-reflection & learning. Starting with shadowing the advocates in the cases, helping with the case notes and slowly progressing to co-hosting meetings, I have been able to enhance my skills & confidence in a professional setting, which I believe would help me as I set foot into the world of social work. The variety of projects that I worked on during this internship, has enabled me to expand my professional network, meet new people, exchange ideas and learn from them.

Lastly, the cherry on top is the culture and amazing people here at USASA that make the experience memorable, and I am glad that I could make the most of this opportunity, adding value to my personal, academic, professional life!

Anushka Nair:

comic Ethan Harris

comic Ethan Harris

SUB MAG THE VERSE

THE HEART OF EACH EDITION HOLDS PLACE FOR DEDICATED CONTENT SURROUNDING MENTAL HEALTH, STYLE, TABOO AND THE ENVIRONMENT.

TRIGGER The following section contains content WARNING some may find disturbing or upsetting.

10 Steps for Self-Care

Amongst the chaos of routine life, it’s essential for us, as respectable human beings, to remember ourselves as people and not robots. In the name of well-being, we created a list for you to swear by on a weekly basis.

Don’t forget: just as your phone does, we need to recharge too.

words & illustrations Kyle Feirclough

illustration Tansey Bennett

Look into my soul and Memorise my makeup

My face in his pillow— That’s all I thought I’d be

Then he takes my arms and His armour covers me And I watched all the movies And I fell for the breakup

I waited on mellow, That’s all I thought it’d be Then he spells it outward And his spell covers me

A light through a fogged street That’s all I thought I’d be I lie in your bed sheets Until they swallow me

Give me the good seat How long will you like it? Your hand on my thigh, That’s all I thought I’d be

Then he takes me home and His home takes me in Start rambling bout nothing And he just stays quiet

I think he will leave me That’s all I thought it’d be He says he’s just listening But means he’s listening to me

A scream into outer space That’s all I thought I’d be I whisper sweet nothings He hears it as he falls asleep

Lust Love & Trust

I give him nothing That’s how it feels to me He gives me everything Are his shoulders heavy?

Coz I know mine used to Feel burdened by all my weight But when he says I’m pretty That all just floats away

I’m dreaming of houses With a little picket fence For sheep to jump over I feel like a kid again

I hope he doesn’t wake me And I hope he never wakes up But when he does He says I’m pretty without makeup

words Rachel Forbes illustration Sonia Zanatta

Poem

words Mitali Parmar

When can things become possible?

When you don’t have to think about it

When is right for our thing?

When its presence makes us feel way better

When can you get in right, world?

When you stop judging people

When can you get free?

When you care for nobody

When this actual happiness arrives?

When you certainly do things that you decide

When will things go right?

When you stop searching for answers

artwork Kyle Feirclough

graphic Lucy Turczynowicz artwork Kyle Feirclough

artwork Anadi Sharma

artwork Kyle Feirclough

War

words Maxian Ghong

History is important for everyone living in this world. We can always use historical thinking to solve contemporary problems. It is always interesting to study history and how the world works. Understanding and analysing history allows you to think about the people before us—it’s like a treasure hunt, as you can capture key information and use it again in different scenarios.

Location is important because that’s how the world works. Know your maps and how you position yourself strategically in relation to others. Manchuria was a puppet state of Japan during the war, as it functioned as a military and political base for further advancement. Mongolia is one of the closest countries to China, as it’s located north of Beijing. We could use it as a base to strategically influence

and threaten China for our health and well-being. It could become a puppet state, just like before, and to close political and economic relationships, it must be established with Japan, which is the strongest power in that location. It could become one of the most important gateways to China, like Hong Kong but with a different approach, as this time it is from the north. Go has been a popular game for scholars and politicians, as it encapsulates the essence of war. As long as you can surround your enemies in the middle and trap them inside until they have got nothing left, then you are the winner of this war. If we can surround China in the middle and strip off its energy supply, then it has nothing to fall back on and it will be yours. Hong Kong was the best gift from Margaret

Thatcher to China, as it sparked decades of economic growth in the region and enabled China’s political domination over the world. Therefore, we must know its history and use it to our advantage. If we place Hong Kong and Mongolia on the map, we could see symmetry and parallel structures. Controlling these two points is crucial to curbing China and its aggression. Japanese companies have been involved in the energy sector in Australia. One company has been involved in Darwin’s LNG production and delivery. Darwin has also been visited by the former prime minister, Shinzo Abe, which was an important event. It was about securing the energy supply for the future. Port Darwin has been given to China’s Landbridge Group since 2015, as the deal involved $A506 million for a

99-year lease. We could, perhaps, smell something in regard to energy supply, as every smart person is playing the long game. Putin recently threatened Europe to cut off their energy supply for the coming winter, as he wants to play politics with Europe. America has recently passed its own climate bill after Australia; therefore, we must be prepared for our future as we should be alarmed by these geopolitical tensions and developments. Conflicts and wars are part of world politics, which requires strategic thinking.

Mao Zedong once said, ‘politics is war without bloodshed while war is politics with bloodshed’.

comic Michelle Chan

photography Justin Leung

LOK. Christine Poon

When it comes to the art gallery, anyone and any space can classify as art.

What is most important in photography is observing. If you truly look, you will always find something interesting about your environment.

THRIFT + STYLE TIPS

with Lucy & Lucas

Our tips for a versatile wardrobe that doesn’t cost your entire paycheck:

1 4

Wear whatever you want. There are no real rules about who should wear what. Life is short and all the time spent debating your outfit is time you could be partying in it!

Go thrifting in a simple tee and something you wear all the time on the bottom. There’s nothing worse than a jumper looking fire with your current outfit and then you put it on with jeans when you get home and it’s a flop. Wearing something simple makes it easier to try stuff on instore too!

If you can’t imagine the piece you’re about to buy with 4+ outfit combos— don’t get it! We’re going for versatility here and a one wear outfit is not that.

2 5

Layering is a great way to spice up a standard outfit— you can layer jewellery, shirts and jackets, even a dress over a shirt can give you a totally new look. It’s fun to mix and match; it gives you more options for the same piece of clothing.

Make use of the ‘little top, big pants’, ‘big top, little pants’ rule—it gives an outfit shape and variety and is definitely a go-to when your garments aren’t congruent or feel a bit off.

3 6

Host a wardrobe swap with friends when your clothing rotation is getting stale. You can clear out your closet and get something new while you’re at it!

graphic Lucy Turczynowicz words Lucy Turczynowicz & Lucas Campbell

photography Henry Kennedy Buick

artworks Sonia Zanatta

photography & words Matisse Chambers

Both these images were taken at Mt Osmond—a place where I’ve learned the craft of photography. Especially for fashion photos, it has provided me with a canvas that looks different in each season. The right side images were taken in late April, with remains of dead grass dried up from the summer heat. Contrastingly, the left side images were taken in early September, with the hills covered by flowers to signify that spring has well and truly arrived. Although it is one location, it helps to portray vastly different stories in both sets of images.

artwork Faraja Umutoni

Interview with Yogi Devgan

interviewer Matisse Chambers interviewee Yogi Devgan

We are thrilled to bring you an interview with one of UniSA’s current Film & Television students, Yogi Devgan. He’s currently in his last semester of study and has already won numerous awards for producing/directing short indie films. Not only this, but his films are being played in festivals around the world, with his latest short film “Buddy” currently being shown overseas. Being a filmmaker with a passion for making a difference, he’s just started a brand new film festival named ‘Port Adelaide Diversity & Inclusion Film Festival’.

Tell us a bit about your film festival and why you decided to create one?! Why was it important to you to focus the festival on diversity & inclusion?

The Australian population is a mix of different cultures, ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ and people with disabilities. The ‘Port Adelaide Diversity and Inclusion Film Festival’, encourages people from these backgrounds to come together under one roof to celebrate and be a part of a new society and culture.

Equality creates balance in society. I am hoping that this new platform helps people across the industry to showcase their work equally and fairly, while also creating a better understanding of our community by showcasing these works by the amazing diversity of filmmakers contributing to the festival. I also believe that “The more we talk about diversity and inclusion, the more awareness and attention will be given to these subjects, which hopefully will enhance and help to create a better society for everyone. On top of this, we can create and encourage great content and celebrate our diverse local community through film.

How did your own filmmaking journey begin?

As a child growing up, I have been telling stories and I always had a dream of working in the film industry but didn’t have the means to pursue it. I decided to study a Bachelor of Film and Television at the University of South Australia.

Where do you draw inspiration from for your films?

My inspiration is from around us and from my experience of seeing people and paying attention to creativity. Sometimes, just being in a location could give me inspiration. CrossCut is another film that I am finishing, off which is inspired by a location I went to.

Why do you think it’s important to showcase films?

Cinema is a powerful tool for experiencing diverse ideas and cultures. Like, you will have no idea how good different food tastes until you try it. Similarly, we can’t experience different stories and storytellers until we showcase their work. Films are made for the audience, and good films can grab the audience’s attention regardless. For example, at the PADI Film festival, a Spanish film (English subtitles) won the award of the best film and the audience award. The audience had tears in their eyes, and they loved that film.

What can we expect for next year’s film festival?

I am hoping to see this year’s festival as a success and how all the audience has very positive things to say that will encourage more local filmmakers to produce content of this type. Maybe there is a possibility this festival could run across multiple days.

Anthony Albanese

words Anonymous

Whenever a prime minister takes power, we have to understand their background and objectives in order to connect with them. Anthony Albanese is the first Australian Prime Minister with an Italian background, which is very significant in the relationship between the two countries. His family is made up of both Italian and Australian languages and cultures. He has connections with both countries and their people. Italian migrants have been very powerful and prominent in developed countries, as they have been migrants and explorers for centuries. There are large Italian communities all over the world. They have their own language and culture. Italian cuisine is famous all over the world. Italian luxury cars are also famous, along with Italian architecture. Italian people like to dominate the retail industry and food production. Italian migrants arrived in Australia after World War II. They have been settled in many cities around Australia, like Adelaide and Melbourne. They have been wealthy migrants that like to construct property and start businesses in family networks and communities. They are very proud of their Italian heritage, as they always seem to embrace their community. If you have the opportunity to interact and engage with Italians in education and the workplace, you will find they are very welcoming and friendly people. Melbourne is one of the most important cities for Italian migrants, which explains why the PM went to Monash University recently. Italian people are

often multilingual, as they can often speak Italian, French, German and English. They are very intelligent people, as they have been prominent in Europe, American and Australian history. Italian children tend to like their mothers more than their fathers, as motherhood is important in their culture—this could be explained by looking into the family structure. They are very proud of their heritage. Ancient Rome has been very important, in terms of its dominance in Europe and Asia. Italian traders and scholars have travelled around the world to explore and study those different societies. They have played an important role in studying and promoting China’s culture and history. The Last Emperor was a famous film directed by Bernardo Bertolucci. The Italian directors have also depicted China’s Imperial Palaces in their work. One of the most famous hotels and casinos in Macau is the Venetian, which also has other hotels and casinos in Las Vegas. There are many Chinese property developments that are designed by Italian architects in major cities like Shenzhen and Beijing. Those buildings have yellow colours with Italian names. They are very western and popular, as they are top-end and very expensive like in Sydney and Melbourne. They are the people of arts, maths, architecture and business. We could understand why Australia and other countries should welcome more migrants for a great future for us all.

illustration Ella Hunter

artwork Rachel Forbes

Australia

One of the most important issues facing us today is how we can create dialogue and communication between the government and the people. It is very sad that contemporary politics have become meaningless and careless. Politicians no longer care about the people and the problems they encounter. Government MPs no longer go out of their office to meet with people and to find out what is going on in this world, as they are used to the idea of sitting inside parliament and talking amongst themselves. They are disconnected from the real world and those important social issues facing their constituents. In order to create meaningful change in our society, we must always ask ourselves, and others, those important questions, as they will help us learn how to tackle those issues confronting our country today. People should never make decisions based on assumptions, they

should be established from facts. Laws have been made by the few that dictate how we think and live—for example, the abhorrent laws now related to abortions in America. They always have an impact on our life and society. So how can we create meaningful change for the people of Australia? There are big political and economic questions confronting us today and we will not be able to solve them without having meaningful dialogues and discussions. Australia is facing political and economic challenges like never before. When Anthony Albanese and the Labor Party took power, it was an extraordinary achievement for everyone in Australia. But the economy is facing headwinds as many businesses are worried about whether they will go bankrupt or not. This government has passed its climate change bill recently, which seemed important on the one hand but not meaningful on the other hand. It

words Anonymous

is not an everyday issue that matters as much to people as health and education. It made people think and question the Labor government’s plans for this country and the world. Every successful government requires input and output from both the government and its people. Without this, the government locks itself inside and nothing meaningful can be achieved. If we are to bring more migrants into this country, there will be consequences for years to come. We must think carefully about those consequences and their impacts on our society, while still remaining inclusive. How can you bring more people into this country when there are numerous unsolved problems that require attention first? The planned immigration intake numbers are scary for people to think of because they will affect how we live and conduct everyday businesses. They are not just a bunch of numbers but people. The Australian Government’s primary objective is to advance us as a strong and prosperous nation that is resilient and healthy. Economy and tax revenues are interlinked as a significant portion of what will go into the government, which are then allocated to different areas based on their needs and demands. Taxpayers’ money cannot be used to fund things that have no meaning to our lives and community. They must be managed carefully to ensure that they achieve their purposes set by the government to provide essential services to people. Numerous studies suggest that there is a lack of resources in key areas like health and education for people in this country. In health, hospitals have not been able to provide adequate healthcare services to people with long waiting lists and times. In education, Australian students have experienced difficulties in their learning, as there are just not enough teachers for schools. It is, therefore, impossible for us to achieve prosperity and success in this country if those issues are

not dealt with carefully by the government. If we allow more people to come in, then the situation could be worsened. Language and culture are central to everything we do in life, and they must be taken into consideration by the government. Australia’s national identity is largely based on British cultural heritage and values. British institutions shaped Australia and the Australian Government in its early days. Successive waves of migration have occurred, which made Australia what it is today.

Home is where we belong, and it is fundamental to our life and identity. Australia is largely a monolingual country that uses English as the official language for education and government. Most Australians speak English, predominantly at home, and this is part of our national identity. The idea of nation-state is increasingly challenged by migration and globalisation; thus, it would be difficult for politicians and governments in western countries to enforce their policies for society today, because those policies may work or may not work depending on the context. It can be difficult for them to achieve their political objectives and election promises. If their policies are not appropriate for particular situations, then they will not bring harmony to society. Eventually, people will lose their trust in the government, which is undesirable and should be avoided at all costs. It is important for the government to develop appropriate policies for health and education, which requires dedication and commitment. They must be based on facts and not fictions. They must come from study and research. Consider the long-term and short-term impacts they will bring to the government itself and to the wider public. Consider the impacts that they will have on us as human beings, and the society we live in.

Another edition, another set of anonymous questions inspired by @werenotreallystrangers!

Remember: it’s always a good idea to check in with not only yourself but your mates too.

‘I feel like I’m drifting from reality without an anchor because of depression.‘

‘Not fabulous, not horrible.‘ ‘Surprisingly, I’ve actually been really good.‘ ‘Exhausted and overwhelmed.‘

‘The grief of my grandpa’s death,

‘The future. What will I do once uni is done? The thought of most jobs terrifies me.‘ ‘The past year… 2021 was not it.‘

’For letting so many people treat me the ’I need to take myself less seriously sometimes. So probably that.’

‘Jjun. He’s my best friend. He keeps me alive.‘ ‘Survivors.‘

‘Ben. He is the kindest, purest soul I’ve ever met in my life, who has taught me so much.‘ ‘My mum <3.’

’My mom. I really hope my mom is here with me as I type this.’

’My boyfriend and my mum.’

’That there’s a difference between being nice and being kind.’

’It may not be that bad.’

’To let things take their natural course.’

’It’s good to stop every once in a while, to just take a breather and look around.’

The Signs as Disney Princesses

Aries

21 Mar – 19 Apr

Merida - Brave

You are fierce and powerful. You enjoy being independent and doing things your way, and your spirit of adventure propels you towards success. While your fiery soul burns passionately, keep it under control, so it doesn’t harm those around you.

Taurus

20 Apr – 20 May

Tiana – The Princess & The Frog

You’re the carer. Hardworking and dedicated to providing the best for the people around you. Your love language is food, eating it and making it for others, and that’s why so many of us love you so much.

Gemini

21 May – 20 June

Cinderella - Cinderella

Lively, social & amicable. You’re the life of the party and you love being the centre of attention. For the things you want most, you’re prepared to fight, even when there are people standing in your way.

Cancer

21 June – 22 Jul

Ariel – The Little Mermaid

Being an emotional sign, you enjoy expressing your emotions, especially via song—if you have the vocal ability. Spend as much time as you can with your lover, since loving and being devoted to someone is in your nature.

Leo

23 Jul – 22 Aug

Moana - Moana

You have leadership skills that come naturally to you, and you excel in this regard. You are driven, passionate, and determined to succeed. You can succeed if you follow your heart, the stars, and your ancestors.

Virgo

23 Aug – 22 Sep

Jasmine - Aladdin

You are passionate about attaining your goals and goal-driven, so you know exactly what you want and how to obtain it. Even under the most trying conditions, you know how to live up to your high expectations.

words & illustrations Kyle Feirclough

Libra

23 Sep – 22 Oct

Snow White – Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs

The best word to describe you, is charming; you exude a certain charisma that everyone finds irresistible. Additionally, you have a connection with animals; they respect your intelligence and your capacity for sensitivity.

Scorpio

23 Oct – 21 Nov

Rapunzel - Tangled Break free from your prison and venture into the outside world. Your best traits are that you’re persistent and determined. You strive to accomplish anything and are a dreamer who enjoys imagining what can and could be.

Sagittarius

22 Nov – 21 Dec

Mulan - Mulan

You are a courageous, intrepid warrior. Never allow anyone to get in your way; you are strong enough to handle your own battles. However, you have a better chance of winning those battles if your friends are there.

Capricorn

22 Dec – 19 Jan

Belle – Beauty & the Beast

The most intelligent of all signs, you have a broad knowledge of literature, and you are straight-up honest with all your attained information. When it comes to the ones you love the most, you are loyal and selfless, and you would do anything to keep them safe.

Aquarius

20 Jan – 18 Feb

Raya – Raya & The Last Dragon

Get down and groove! You love to dance, Your strongest traits are determination and courage, yet you also struggle with trusting people. You don’t let people into your life lightly, but those who you do, are eventually the ones you can trust the most and who you will always adore.

Pisces

19 Feb – 20 Mar

Aurora – Sleeping Beauty

There aren’t many individuals who are as kind as you are. You are courteous, sensitive, and kind to everyone. Although you’re easy-going and have a sensitive temperament, you can be dangerous— keep in mind that curiosity killed the cat.

artwork Henry Hough-Hobbs

Team’s Goodbye

The uni semester is coming to a close and so are our roles at Verse. It’s a privilege to look back at our first edition and the five others that followed it.

I want to thank the team for being such amazing collaborators and creatives and for sticking through the challenges we all faced as first-time magaziners; the team at USASA. And, of course, you, our readers, and contributors! Verse would not be half the magazine it is without all of your support, ideas, creativity and vulnerability.

Thank you for growing and learning beside our team who was doing the exact same. I feel proud to have been able to give UniSA students and their creativity, stories, and thoughts the recognition they deserve.

Big love always, Matisse xxx

During my first few weeks of university, I vividly recall seeing Verse magazine for the first time and I thought to myself, how awesome it would be to participate in something like a student publication. Now that I’m in my last year of university, I have been a member of the team that brings the magazine together.

I am extremely grateful to be a member of such a fantastic team, and to have assisted in showcasing all the outstanding student work that is submitted to Verse. In stressful and time-consuming situations, I’ve learned to be courageous and optimistic and I’m very proud of what we’ve curated together.

I look forward to reading every upcoming issue and I hope the team next year is just as brilliant as all the teams before us.

Sincerely, Kyle x

I have seen my team and I grow immensely in our roles here at Verse, and it goes without saying, I am so grateful to have had the chance to work with such a phenomenal group of people over the last six issues; this goodbye is bittersweet.

Our experience was entirely made by our devoted readers and the insanely talented contributors we have had the privilege to publish.

YOU make Verse thrive! The raw vulnerability, sensitivity and passion you have put in throughout the year, has blown us away. Thank you for embracing our style, for allowing us to pick your brains and for never failing to impress us.

I have nothing but confidence in believing the future submissions and teams will do Verse proud.

Always, Isabelle xx

President’s Letter

What a year it has been. As we have come out of the isolated pandemic, new challenges have emerged, and we have found ourselves busier than ever. As this academic year draws to a close, the general sentiment is that we are now living in the post-covid world, yet everything seems more unclear and uncertain than ever.

It has been an honour to serve as your President for the past 12 months. I was elected on the platform of “Reconnecting”, which I spoke about at length in my first President’s letter—reconnecting with services, reconnecting with one another, reconnecting with a sense of purpose.

For me, this year, that sense of purpose has been helping students navigate this new world and ensure that no one is left behind.

We started the year unsure whether classes would be held in person, but when we came back, the board made it our mission to ensure that the support and

on-campus life returned. We first sought to deliver on our election promise, to make nursing uniforms more affordable and sold at USASA stores—hopefully, this will begin in 2023. When the National Student Safety Survey results came out, we knew our university had to do better on SASH. Despite opposition, we continue to do the work that matters through our SASH Response and Prevention Working Group, with reps leading the way to highlight the areas where the university is failing students. When reconciliation week came around, we asked ‘how can we make Be Brave, Make Change more than a theme?’ Here began the journey of creating our first-ever reconciliation plan, as a student association. We’ve advocated on several student issues, from fully funding the UniSA Ally Network, which officially launched in August, to supporting international students in the fight against Wage Theft, with State Government now looking to make underpaying employees a criminal offence. Our financial counselling service has been bolstered by the work done to keep the university’s $10 million Student Hardship Fund, which has been a lifeline for many struggling students. The benefit of listening, learning and acting have been captured through everything we have done as a board and what I have aimed to do as the USASA President.

Many more projects, initiatives and fights are underway, and will hopefully become recognised in the coming months. Everyone who stood by my team and supported us throughout it—thank you, we couldn’t have done it without you.

Until next time, Isaac Solomon

Contributors

Alice Whittlesea Anadi Sharma Anushka Nair Chelsie Morey Colin Herring Ella Hunter Ethan Harris Faraja Umutoni Henry Hough-Hobbs Henry Kennedy Buick Isaac Soloman Isabelle Raven Jim Hueng Justin Leung Kyle Feirclough LOK.

Lucy Turczynowicz Matisse Chambers Maxian Ghong Michelle Chan Mitali Parmar Rachel Forbes Shania Parker Sonia Zanatta Sophie Alchin Tansey Bennett USASA Yogi Devgan

@alicewhittlesea @lets.revive.humanity @anushka.25 @moreyarti

@skadihuntress @ejharrisart @artbyfaraja @henry_hough_hobbs | @hhh_photos hjkb.photography @isaacdsolomon @nevari.indd

@_just_tin @_kyle.ai @lok.theartist @stoopidart.com.au @matissechambers @rachel.elenor @shania.parker @sonny.and.co @usasaadelaide @yogidevgn

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